Offseason to-do lists for AL East teams

The Cleveland Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948 and it's going to stay that way for at least another year. The Cubs beat the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 of the World Series.

Interesting that the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA championship last June, but the Indians blew a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

The Indians, who lost Game 7 of the 1997 World Series in extra innings to the Marlins, have three key free agents - Mike Napoli, Raijai Davis and Coco Crisp - and their best hitter, Michael Brantley, should be returning from a shoulder injury next season.

Baseball's Winter Meetings begin Dec. 5 in National Harbor, MD.

Here's a look at where American League East teams stand going into the offseason:

BALTIMORE - After spending big last year in the free agent market, the Orioles' most challenging questions will be trying to sign their top two free agents - catcher Matt Wieters and right-fielder Mark Trumbo, the AL home run champ with 47 - and finding a leadoff batter. Adam Jones is set in center field, but the Orioles have to figure out who will play the corner outfield spots. Jones led off last year, but manager Buck Showalter wants to move Jones to another spot in the lineup. Can Hyun Soo Kim, a left-handed batter, be platooned in left field with Joey Rickard, who missed the final 10 weeks of the season with a hand injury?

Two other intriguing free agents include designated hitter Pedro Alvarez and outfielder Steve Pearce. Would Pearce be part of the answer in right field? If he can prove he's healthy, Pearce is a valuable player because of his versatility and power. And he's a favorite of Showalter.

Another story to watch is prospect Trey Mancini, who looked good in a September stint. If Wieters leaves, the Orioles' catching roster would be Caleb Joseph and Francisco Pena, with prospect Chance Sisco getting the final rounds of experience he needs in the minor leagues.

The Orioles' rotation has pitchers with Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy leading the way. The rotation also includes lefty Wade Miley and righties Yovani Gallarado and Ubaldo Jimenez. The bullpen is one of the deepest in baseball. Meanwhile, the infield from third to first stacks Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis.

BOSTON - The Red Sox are the defending AL East champions with a group of talented players that will give them a solid nucleus for a long time, led by outfielder Mookie Betts, an AL MVP candidate. But to improve, the Red Sox need to add to their bullpen and find a replacement for DH David Ortiz. The bullpen is set with closer Craig Kimbrel, but Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler are free agents, so there are holes to fill in the set-up roles.

The Red Sox will have to decide if they want a full-time DH - Edwin Encarnacion or maybe Mark Trumbo are possible additions - but they also have Pablo Sandoval, the weight-issue guy who is being paid $95 million over a five years. Do the Red Sox go with a full-time DH or have a flexible roster with several DHs, which seems to be the trend? ... Sandoval, who missed 2016 because of a shoulder injury, could end up playing third base, his fielding position. The Red Sox had Brock Holt, Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill rotate at that position.

NEW YORK - The Yankees, who were contenders for a wild card postseason spot even though they traded Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran, will likely keep the youth movement going, but you can never tell with the Yankees. CC Sabathia (knee), Michael Pineda (shoulder) and Masahiro Tanaka (elbow) had strong Septembers in the rotation, but their injuries are always a concern. The Yankees hope for a bounceback season from top-notch prospect Luis Severino, and Chad Green, Bryan Mitchell and Luis Cessa are rotation possibilities. Greg Bird and Tyler Austin will compete for the job at first base and Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Rob Refsnyder will be the candidates to replace Beltran in right field.

Gary Sanchez, who went on a home run tear at the end of the season, will likely be the starting catcher, but then what do the Yankees do with Brian McCann, who could end up heading back to Atlanta? If McCann is not traded, he could be the Yankees DH. Dellin Betances is the Yankees closer, but reports out of New York say the Yankees will go after Chapman, the pitcher they traded to the Cubs in July. Also speculation is that the Yankees will trade for a big-name pitcher such as White Sox lefty Chris Sale, but general manager Brian Cashman says the team doesn't want to give up the price in prospects.

TAMPA BAY - After 94 losses and a last-place finish in the AL East, the first time that's happened since 2007, the Rays will have the same offseason problems: How to improve a roster with a payroll in the $70 million range, lowest in baseball. The Rays are deep in starting pitching, especially with the return of Alex Cobb and the potential of prospect Blake Snell, so that means lefty Drew Smyly - and his $7 million contract - could be on the trading block.

The Rays added power bats to their lineup last offseason and that allowed them to finish sixth in the AL in home runs, but they also led the league in strikeouts (1,482). They need offensive upgrades or platoon partners for corner outfielders Steven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson. They also need to get a power bat at first base. The Rays will also look to add to their bullpen with All-Star closer Alex Colome, Brad Boxberger and lefty Xavier Cedeno the only pitchers with guaranteed spots in 2017.

TORONTO - The Blue Jays, who lost to Cleveland in the ALCS, have $100 million committed to nine players for next season, and so it begs the question: Will they be able to keep power-hitting free agents Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion? That's their biggest question. The Blue Jays will make qualifying offers of $17.2 million to each of them, but how they respond will be the story in Toronto. Kevin Pillar is the only player set in the outfield next year because All-Star Michael Saunders is also going to be a free agent.

Of the other Blue Jays free agents, only right-hander Joaquin Benoit is likely to return. The Blue Jays would love to have Brett Cecil, but the market could price him out of the market in Toronto. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will be gone, but the Blue Jays have Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and Francisco Lirano returning. The Blue Jays are also thinking of making reliever Joe Biagini a starter. Talk has been that Roberto Osuna would move to the rotation as well, but Osuna wants to remain the team's closer.